Detachable retainer for articles



@et E967 s. D. Tomwims DETACHABLE RETAINER FOR ARTICLES Filed July 14, 1965 United States Patent O 3,346,927 DETACHABLE RETAINER FOR ARTICLES Sally D. rl`o1nnpkins, 5340 Douglas Lane, Yorba Linda, Calif. 92686 Filed July 14, 1965, Ser. No. 471,971 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-245) This invention relates to a detachable retainer or connector for temporarily securing articles together. This invention `will be described in connection with a device for securing a pair of socks together prior to and during laundering, but it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration only.

Sorting of socks after laundering in order to match up pairs is a tedious and time-consuming operation. It is an object of this invention to provide a detachable retainer which may readily be applied to pairs of socks prior to laundering and which will maintain the pairs in connected relationship during the laundering and drying operation, thereby avoiding the usual searching and matching to locate the particular socks which go together to form matching pairs. Another object is to provide a retainer of this type which will not interfere with normal laundering or drying operation, `which is easy to use and which may be manufactured economically on a quantity production basis.

These and other objects are achieved by providing a retainer having a flexible shank with a flat paddle-Shaped terminal at each end, one of the terminals having a laterally extending flanged knob and the other having a series of connected apertures of decreasing size, so that upon Abending of the shank to bring the terminals into juxtaposition the flanged knob and one thickness of the material of each of the socks may pass laterally into the largest aperture and then be moved longitudinally into the smaller aperture which prevents accidental disassembly.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation `showing a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the device in operative position holding a pair of socks together.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional detail partly broken away and shown on an enlarged scale and illustrating how the flanged knob on one terminal together with one thickness of material from each of two socks extends through one of the apertures on the other terminal.

Referring to the drawings, the retainer generally designated is provided `with a flexible shank 11 having llat paddle-shaped terminals 12 and 13 integrally formed at opposite ends thereof. The terminal 13 is provided with a hollow laterally-projecting knob 14 and this knob 14 has a flange 15 encircling the knob and spaced from the terminal 13. The llange 15 is dened -by a circumferential series of small lugs 16 formed integrally with the knob 14. A plurality of apertures 16' in the terminal 13 encircle the knob 14.

The terminal 12 has a series of apertures 17, 18 and 19 formed therein of progressively decreasing size.

When the shank 11 is bent into a U-shape as shown in FIGURE 3 to bring the terminals 12 and 13 into juxtaposition the flange 15 may be inserted through the largest aperture 17, and then the terminals 12 and 13 may be moved relative to each other to bring the knob 14 into one of the other apertures. The apertures 18 and 19 are too small to permit lateral entry of the flange 15.

In operation one thickness of material from each of the two socks A and B of a matching pair is placed over the knob 14 and flange 15. The knob and the two thickness of material are then moved laterally through the aperture 17 and then longitudinally into the smaller aperture 18 or 19, depending upon the thickness of the material. The two socks are then held together a-gainst separation. The two socks, with the retainer 10 holding them together, may then be passed through conventional laundering and drying operations along with other socks similarly retained in pairs.

The spaces between the lugs 16 forming the ilange 15 and the apertures 16 encircling t-he knob 14 provide for passage of air to assist in the drying operation. If desired the retainer 1li may be left in position on the pair of socks A and B following laundering and drying, and preparatory to reuse of the socks by the wearer.

While the retainer 10 may be formed of any suitable or desirable material, I prefer to employ molded plastic material such as for example polyethylene.

While the retainer 10 is admirably suited for the purpose described above, it is also useful for other purposes such as easy hanging of drip dry articles of wearing apparel, or may be used over towel racks or shower bars or in closets for hanging of -garments and may be used for securing a baby blanket to a crib. This list of uses is illustrative only and is not intended to be exhaustive.

Having Ifully described my invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a retainer device for holding together a pair of articles of apparel, the combination of: a ilexible part provided With a terminal at each end, one of said terminals having a laterally extending knob and the other of said terminals having a series of connected apertures of decreasing size, so that upon bending of the 'shank to bring the terminals into juxtaposition said knob may pass laterally into the largest aperture and then move longitudinally into a smaller aperture, the knob having a llange formed of a circumferential series of small lugs Iwith spaces between them, and the knob terminal having a series of apertures encircling the knob and opposite the said lugs to facilitate drying of the pair of articles when retained by the retainer device.

References Cited WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner. 

